Personnel or cargo net

ABSTRACT

A personnel or cargo net has a cushioned base spreader ring which carries a padded load supporting platform for the net, a top pick-up ring, an upper spreader ring of smaller diameter than the base spreader ring between the pick-up ring and base spreader ring, a web-like sidewall having longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced lacings secured to the spreader rings and looped through the pick-up ring, a cable for securing the pick-up ring to a hoist, lacings secured at one end to the pickup ring and at the other end to the upper spreader ring and twisted along with the lacings which are looped through the pickup ring in a direction opposite to the lay of the cable whereby any rotative forces of the cable are resisted by the twisted lacings and spinning of the net is avoided.

United States Patent [191 Pugh Aug. 6, 1974 PERSONNEL OR CARGO NET 76 Inventor: Billy'Gene Pugh, P.O. Box 802,

Corpus Christi, Tex. 78403 22 Filed: Nov. 15,1972

[21] App1.No.:306,586

[52 us. CI. 294/77 511 1nt.Cl. ..B66c1/12 [58] Field of Search 294/67 E, 67 EA, 74, 77', 182/138, 139; 104/19; 244/151 R Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clelle W. Upchurch [571' ABSTRACT A personnel or cargo net has a cushioned base spreader ring which carries a padded load supporting platform for the net, a top pick-up ring, an upper spreader ring of smaller diameter than the base spreader ring between the pick-up ring and base spreader ring, a web-like sidewall having longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced lacings secured to the spreader rings and looped through the pick-up ring, a cable for securing the pick-up ring to a hoist, lacings secured at one end to the pick-up ring and at the other end to the upper spreader ring and twisted along with the lacings which are looped through the pick-up ring in a direction opposite to the lay of the cable whereby any rotative forces of the cable are resisted by the twisted lacings and spinning of the net is avoided.

PAIENTEnAuc SIGN SHEET 2 UF 3 PATENIEU Am: 61374 SHEU 3 BF 3 PERSONNEL OR CARGO NET This invention relates generally to a personnel or cargo net and more particularly to an improved net for transferring personnel or cargo from place to place with a hoist.

A personnel and cargo net which has been used extensively in moving personnel from boat to boat or for transfer of personnel or cargo between boat and platform of offshore oil well drilling rigs is described and claimed in my US. Pat. No. 2,827,325. The disclosed personnel or cargo landing net has many advantages over other devices used to transfer personnel by means of a hoist such as a crane but it has the disadvantage that personnel might be injured by a sloppy crane operator who strikes them with a spreader ring or drops them roughly to a choppy sea or to a rigid surface such as the platform of an offshore oil well drilling rig. Moreover, it was discovered in practice that there is atendency for the net to spin or rotate while supported solely by the hoist. Such spinning weakens the cable used to attach the net to the hoist and tends to cause dizziness in the passengers. g

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved personnel or cargo transfer net which is devoid of the foregoing disadvantages. Another object of the invention is to provide a personnel or cargo transfer net having an improved base spreader ring and platform for the passengers. Still another object of the invention is to provide a generally conically or frustoconically shaped personnel and cargo transfer net. A further object of the invention is to provide a personnel or cargo transfer net adapted to be hoisted and transferred by its top without spinning.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partially in section, illustrating the combination of longitudinally extending lacings, base spreader ring, upper spreader ring and pick-up ring of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an uncovered embodiment of a base spreader ring and load supporting platform;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of the spreaderring, pick-up ring and cable assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the top spreader ring and lacing assembly;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the padded platform; and

A foam plastic or rubber buoyant pad 16 is disposed about the periphery of rings 12 and 13. Circumferentially spaced annular steel bands 17 secure pad 16 to rings 12 and 13 and may tend to force padding into the groove between rings 12 and 13. Pad 16 may be circular in cross-section and may be any suitable buoyant and cushioning material. Ethafoam or other synthetic resinous foam may be disposed about the rings 12 and 13 with its ends in abutting relationship. Pad 16 serves as a bumper if the net strikes another object.

Pad 16 may be enclosed in a canvas or other suitable cover 30 lashed about rings 12 and 13 and to a canvas pad 18 disposed over the web formed by lacings 15 to form a platform for personnel or cargo.

An upper spreader ring 19 (FIG. 4) is disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship above base spreader ring 11. Spreader ring 19 may be a single pipe welded to form a ring which is smaller in diameter than rings 12 and 13. Padding 20 disposed about ring 19 is similar to padding l6 and is secured to ring 19 by a rubber sleeve stretched thereabout and bands 17A.

A lifting or pick-up ring 21 is disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship above top spreader ring 19. A wire cable 22 having a right hand lay is secured to ring 21 at one end by eyelet 23 formed by splicing and roping the cable end. An opposite end of cable 22 may be secured to a ring 24 (FIG. 7) adapted to be engaged by a hoist.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings or ropes 25 combine with horizontal lacings 26 to form a weblike sidewall for net 10. Lacings 25 pass between spreader ring 19 and padding 20 as shown in FIG. 5. Lacings 25 are looped through pick-up ring 21 and are secured at each end to ring 12 at points which are" substantially opposite each other as illustrated in FIG. 2. The ends of lacings 25 may be spliced about pipe 12 and wound with rope. The number of lacings 25 may be varied. with variation in the circumference of spreader ring 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, longitudinally spaced crosslacings 26 may be lashed or otherwise secured to lac- FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a stabilizer and pick-up cable assembly.

Referring now to the drawing, a personnel or cargo net 10 is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, net 10 has a basespreader ring 11 formed of two rings 12 and 13 of substantially the same diameter secured together in longitudinally spaced; relationship by circumferentially spaced bars 14. The ends of bars 14 may be welded or otherwise secured to rings 12 and 13.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the area enclosed by base spreader ring 11 is closed by chordal ropes or lacings 15 secured at eachend-to ring 12 by splicing and wrapings 25'. Cross-lacings 26 do not extend completely about net 10 in order that an opening 27 is provided for access to the interior of net 10. At least one access opening 27 and preferably two pairs of oppositely disposed access openings are provided by omitting the cross-lacings 26 between a pair of adjacent lacings 25. If desired, the circumferential spacing between lacings 25 which border an opening 27 may be greater than the spacing between those bridged by cross-lacings 26. The spacing of lacings 25 which border an opening 27 may be such that the opening is too small for personnel or cargo to fall therebetween when the lacings are taut but large enough for access to the net 10 when the lacings 25 are slack.

As shown best in FIG. 4, a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings 28 are splicedand wound with rope at one end to ring 19 and at the other end to ring 21.

Lacings 25 and 28 are twisted to the left by rotating ring 21 with ring 19 being stationary as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4. The lacings 25 and 28 are tightly wrapped with acord 55' while so twisted. Wrapping is started at a point on the lacings 25 and 28spaced below ring'2'l and continued to the lower edge of ring 21.

When lifting pressure is applied to pick-up ring 21 through right hand lay cable 22 with all lines 25 and 28 wrapped while twisted to the left, the lacings 25 and 28 pull against cable 22 to stop any spinning action that might occur. It has been found that spinning of net is avoided if the lay of the cable used for the load line is opposite to the direction in which the lacings 25 and 28 are twisted. If the lacings are not twisted or if the direction in which they are twisted is the same as the lay of the cable, the net will rotate while supported by a hoist. Spinning of the net not only weakens the cable but also tends to make passengers dizzy.

The upper spreader ring should be smaller in crosssection than the base spreader ring. In this way a man standing near the periphery of the load supporting platform is encouraged to lean inwardly for better balance while holding on to the net. For example, the diameter of ring 19 may be about one-half of the diameter of ring 11.

The padding about the base spreader ring protects against injury if someone is struck by the net as it is moved into position for picking him up. The padding also provides buoyance for flotation if a net is dropped into water. By placing two rings one over the other to form the base spreader ring, a padded platform is provided which protects a passenger in the event of a hard touch down by a sloppy hoist operator or from a choppy area. The thickness of the platform may be such that the shock of such a landing is absorbed by the padding to protect the passengers ankles. The separated rings also tend to give the same effect as a drop center rim on an automobile wheel. The foam padding may be wrapped in the center groove and secured with a steel clamp.

The net provided by the invention may be used to rescue personnel from boats or it may be used in offshore well drilling to lift personnel to the working platform of the oil well drilling equipment.

The lacings or lines used to fabricate the net may be any substantially inelastic but flexible strands of any suitable fibers such as hemp, synthetic fibers such as polypropylene fibers or the like.

A stabilizer 35 may be connected between rings 21 and 24 to hold the net upright when the base of the net is resting on a supporting surface and cable 22 is slack. Such a stabilizer may be the one described in my patent US. Pat. No 3,165,346 but a preferred stabilizer is illustrated in FIG. 7. A plurality, preferably five, of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending elastic strips or tubing 40 such as rubber hose about onequarter inch OD and one-eighth inch ID are secured at each end to a circular plate 36 carrying on eyelet 37. One eyelet is secured to ring 21 and the other to ring 24. The length of the inelastic cable 22 is greater than the length of the unstretched rubber tubes 40 so that the elastic strips are elongated during lifting of the net by the inelastic cable without distorting the elastic strips beyond their elastic limit whereby the energy stored in the strips is utilized to maintain the net in an upright position such as when the crane is carried by a bobbing boat.

Cable 22 may be wire or any other suitable cable. Preferably, it is a spirally wound right hand lay polypropylene fiber cable about five-eighths inch in diameter. The length of cable 22 is preferably about twice the length of rubber tubing 40. In this way the tubing 22 has been stretched to about twice its relaxed length when cable 22 supports the weight of net 10. With such a relationship between cable length and elastic member length, the net may be deposited on a supporting surface and the lifting force on cable 22 released until cable 22 is slack at which time the elastic members 40 will support the net in its upright position. Of course, the relative length of the cable and members 40 may be varied insolong as cable 22 can be slack without members 40 also being slack.

A preferred personnel transfer net has 12 lacings 25 about a base spreader ring six feet in diameter with cross-lacings 26 extending horizontally across four groups of three lacings 25 with four openings 27. Preferably, the upper spreader ring in this embodiment is about 3 feet in diameter and the distance between spreader rings is about 7 feet. Preferably four lacings 28 are used.

The weight of net 10 should be sufficient that members 40 will not lift it when cable 22 is slack. The platform supported by rings 12 and 13 supplies most of this weight. A suitable filler material such as clay, sand or the like may be placed in the pipes used to fabricate rings 12 and 13 to weight the platform. Alternately, a rod or thick walled pipe may be used without filler. A canvas sheet or pad may be lashed to cover 30 to close the bottom of the platform, if desired. The padding l6 and 20 may be polyurethane foam, styrene foam, foam rubber or the like.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be limited by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A personnel and cargo net comprising a base spreader ring carrying a platform to support the personnel or cargo, a second spreader ring spaced longitudinally from the base and of smaller cross-section than the base, a pick-up ring disposed above the second spreader ring, circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings secured at each end to the base spreader ring, secured to said second spreader ring and looped through the pick-up ring, lacings secured at one end to the second spreader ring and at the other end to the pick-up ring, said lacings being twisted and secured against untwisting adjacent to the pick-up ring, and a cable having a lay opposite to the direction of twisting of the lacings secured to the pick-up ring and adapted to be secured to a hoist.

2. The net of claim 1 wherein said base spreader ring comprises top and bottom rings secured together in longitudinally spaced relationship, chordal strands form a web across the space enclosed by the top ring, a buoyant pad surrounds each spreader ring, and a cover is secured about the web and padding.

3. The net of claim 2 wherein longitudinally spaced cross-lacings extend only partially around the periphery of the space bordered by the longitudinally extending lacings, whereby at least one longitudinally extending opening is provided for access to the interior of the net between a pair of adjacent longitudinally extending lacings.

4. The net of claim 3 wherein l2 longitudinally extending lacings are spaced circumferentially about the base spreader ring and upper spreader ring, four lacings have one end secured to the upper spreader ring and pick-up ring.

5. The net of claim 1 wherein said cable is secured at one end to said pick-up ring and at the other end to means for attaching it to a hoist, and a plurality of elastic members of shorter length than the length of the cable are secured at one end to the pick-up ring and at the other end to the means for attaching the cable to the hoist.

6. The net of claim 5 wherein the weight of the platform exceeds the weight lifting capability of the said elastic members.

7. In a personnel or cargo net having a base and a pick-up means for attaching the net to a lifting means, said pick-up means and base being spaced longitudinally from each other, and lacings spaced circumferentially about the base, said lacings being secured to the 9. The net of claim 7 wherein the means for lifting the net comprises an inelastic cable and at least one elastic member secured to the top of the net and to means for attaching the said cable and member to a hoist, the length of the cable being greater than the relaxed length of the said member, and the weight of the said base spreader ring being greater than the weight lifting capability of the said member.

10. The net of claim 9 wherein at least one of the rings of the base spreader ring contains a ballast.

11. A personnel and cargo net comprising a base spreader ring carrying a platform to support the personnel or cargo, a second spreader ring spaced longitudinally from the base spreader ring, a pick-up ring disposed above the second spreader ring, circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings secured to the base spreader ring and to said second spreader ring and looped through the pick-up ring, said base spreader ring comprising upper and lower rings secured together in longitudinally spaced relationship, a resilient means wrapped around the rings and the spaced therebetween to serve as a bumper for the rings and to impart buoyancy thereto, a web of chordal lacings across the space encircled by the upper of said rings,

and a cover over the webbing. 

1. A personnel and cargo net comprising a base spreader ring carrying a platform to support the personnel or cargo, a second spreader ring spaced longitudinally from the base and of smaller cross-section than the base, a pick-up ring disposed above the second spreader ring, circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings secured at each end to the base spreader ring, secured to said second spreader ring and looped through the pickup ring, lacings secured at one end to the second spreader ring and at the other end to the pick-up ring, said lacings being twisted and secured against untwisting adjacent to the pick-up ring, and a cable having a lay opposite to the direction of twisting of the lacings secured to the pick-up ring and adapted to be secured to a hoist.
 2. The net of claim 1 wherein said base spreader ring comprises top and bottom rings secured together in longitudinally spaced relationship, chordal strands form a web across the space enclosed by the top ring, a buoyant pad surrounds each spreader ring, and a cover is secured about the web and padding.
 3. The net of claim 2 wherein longitudinally spaced cross-lacings extend only partially around the periphery of the space bordered by the longitudinally extending lacings, whereby at least one longitudinally extending opening is provided for access to the interior of the net between a pair of adjacent longitudinally extending lacings.
 4. The net of claim 3 wherein 12 longitudinally extending lacings are spaced circumferentially about the base spreader ring and upper spreader ring, four lacings have one end secured to the upper spreader ring and the other end secured to the pick-up ring and said four lacings are twisted to the left and bound against untwisting by a rope wound thereabout adjacent to the pick-up ring.
 5. The net of claim 1 wherein said cable is secured at one end to said pick-up ring and at the other end to means for attaching it to a hoist, and a plurality of elastic members of shorter length than the length of the cable are secured at one end to the pick-up ring and at the other end to the means for attaching the cable to the hoist.
 6. The net of claim 5 wherein the weight of the platform exceeds the weight lifting capability of the said elastic members.
 7. In a personnel or cargo net having a base and a pick-up means for attaching the net to a lifting means, said pick-up means and base being spaced longitudinally from each other, and lacings spaced circumferentially about the base, said lacings being secured to the base and looped through the pick-up means, the improvement which comprises providing a cable between said lifting means and pick-up means which has a lay in one direction and lacings which are twisted adjacent to the pick-up means in a direction which is opposite to the direction of the lay of the cable, and means for securing the lacings against untwisting.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the cable has a right hand lay and the lacings are twisted to the left.
 9. The net of claim 7 wherein the means for lifting the net comprises an inelastic cable and at least one elastic member secured to the top of the net and to means for attaching the said cable and member to a hoist, the length of the cable being greater than the relaxed length of the said member, and the weight of the said base spreader ring being greater than the weight lifting capability of the said member.
 10. The net of claim 9 wherein at least one of the rings of the base spreader ring contains a ballast.
 11. A personnel and cargo net comprising a base spreader ring carrying a platform to support the personnel or cargo, a second spreader ring spaced longitudinally from the base spreader ring, a pick-up ring disposed above the second spreader ring, circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending lacings secured to the base spreader ring and to said second spreader ring and looped through the pick-up ring, said base spreader ring comprising upper and lower rings secured together in longitudinally spaced relationship, a resilient means wrapped around the rings and the spaced therebetween to serve as a bumper for the rings and to impart buoyancy thereto, a web of chordal lacings across the space encircled by the upper of said rings, and a cover over the webbing. 